Mandwa screens film ‘Aina’

Islamabad

Director: Nazrul Islam

Producer: Rauf Shamsi

Script: Bashir Niaz

Music: Robin Ghosh

Cast: Shabnam, Nadeem, Bahar, Rehan, Shahzeb

Lok Virsa film club Mandwa screened film ‘Aina’ on Saturday. This was a tribute to our best of the best film talent and their craftsmanship from the seventies.

'Aina' came out in March 1977. This was an eventful year in our history. Election fallout, PNA protest, downfall of the government and Martial Law. Hassan Askari ('Salakheen'), S. Suleman ('Uff Yeh Beevian,' 'Merey Hazoor) and Nazar Shabab ('Susral') were major names from that year. Others were almost washed out by the political riots. However, director Nazrul Islam and producer Rauf Shamsi's ‘Aina’ not only stood like a rock but turned out to be the only film which ran for over 200 weeks in Karachi and was a major hit nationwide.

What was so special about ‘Aina’? There were many reasons for its remarkable success. A powerful script with plenty of female appeal, smash hit music, polished direction, impressive production effects and popular casting. Screenwriter Bashir Niaz was never known for coming out with original scripts. Here too, he ripped it off from Indian films ‘Bobby’, ‘Thori Se Beewafai’ and ‘Aa Galey Lag Ja’. Ironically, it was India which turned to us later and ‘Aina’ was ripped off as ‘Pyar Jhukta Nahi’. So much for plagiarism!

‘Aina’ had formula-ridden hackneyed beginning of a rich spoiled woman (Shabnam) falling for a hotel receptionist (Nadeem). They get married against the will of rich parents Bahar and Rehan. Bahar makes a point to wreck their marriage with expensive gifts (which the newly married couple obviously cannot afford). The prestige and self-esteem of hotel receptionist would not bite the dust and separation is waiting in the corridors. Without indulging the rest, the film comes with more melodramatic twists and turns which includes series of tragedies and tear jerking sentiments by child star Shahzeb with musical numbers. So what really mattered here! It was glossy production effects, impressive direction and hit musical score which made ‘Aina’ into a smash hit of the year.

Casting of Shabnam and Nadeem as a married couple with a son (they both had been working now in films for over ten years) was the best casting choice. Bahar as rich mother, who is bent upon destroying the marriage, and Rehan as stubborn father, were equally impressive to attract both gentry and mass crowds. Composer Robin Ghost already known for his soothing and highly selective film scorers from ‘Chanda’, ‘Chakori’ and ‘Ehsas’, came out with half-a dozen melodies rendered by of Mehnaz, Mehdi Hassan, Alamgir and Nayyara Noor:

"Kabhi mei sochta hoon"

"Wada karo saajna"

"Mujhey dil sey na bhulaana"

"Rothey ho tum tum ko kesey manoon"

Looking back over almost forty years, many talented artists who contributed their craft to ‘Aina’ are no longer with us. ‘Aina’ reminds us of our rich film traditions which would remain precious as part of our film history.

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